union sindical obrera de la industria del petroleo "uso"

UNION SINDICAL OBRERA
DE LA INDUSTRIA DEL PETROLEO
"USO"
COMISION NACIONAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Y PAZ U.S.O
Personería Jurídica No. 005272 de Octubre 22 de 1993
NIT: 800.217.208.1
Afiliada a: FUNTRAENERGETICA y a la CUT
URGENT ACTION
Arrests of Trade Union Leaders in Colombia Continue
The UNION SINDICAL OBRERA DE LA INDUSTRIA DEL PETROLEO (USO) denounces the
latest series of arrests that occurred on December 4, 2013, those of CAMPO ELIAS
ORTIZ, JOSE DILIO NARANJO, and HECTOR SANCHEZ, who were workers and union
leaders in intermediary companies contracted by PACIFIC RUBIALES in the Department
of Meta. These events follow the arrest of DARIO CARDENAS, vice president of USO’s
Meta Division several weeks ago.
Background:
The promising oil fields of Campo Rubiales, in Puerto Gaitan, Meta have become a new
oil enclave, with over 10,000 employees who work in humiliating circumstances with
no regard for Colombian law. In this context, our union has repeatedly demanded
decent working conditions and respect for workers’ constitutional rights. The response
we have received from Pacific Rubiales, and its subcontractor agencies, has taken the
offensive and repressive form of mass layoffs, stigmatization, militarization of the area
and a wide variety of attacks on the region’s workers.
Since 2011 countless protests have been organized in this region by workers and
communities, to demand labor rights and the recognition of the right to unionize.
These protests have been met with inhumane behavior on behalf of security forces
operating in the region. In the framework of the state’s response, many of our workers
have been injured or arbitrarily detained. Businesses and the government have opted
not to pursue social solutions, instead prosecuting leaders and activists, as illustrated
by the arrest of Dario Cardenas Pachon, Vice President of USO’s Meta division, on
November 2, 2013. Pachon is currently in a Villavicencio prison.
Facts:
1.- On December 4, 2013 , members of the Judical Police (CTI) arrested CAMPO ELIAS
ORTIZ, JOSE DILIO NARANJO, and HECTOR SANCHEZ, workers and union leaders in
intermediaries contracted by transnational PACIFIC RUBIALES in the department of
Meta, as ordered by an arrest warrant issued by the National Office of the Prosecutor
Luchanos por la nacionalización sin indemnización de nuestro petróleo, recursos naturales y la unidad de la clase obrera
USO NACIONAL – Barrancabermeja
Avda. del Ferrocarril No. 28-43. AA. 386
Tel. (976) 22 78 56- 20 99 11- 20 99 12. Fax 22 91 50
E-mail: [email protected]
USO NACIONAL – Bogotá
Calle 35 No. 7 – 25 Piso 8
Tel. (91) 2 34 47 23 - 2 34 42 63 – 2 34 45 86
E-mail: [email protected]
UNION SINDICAL OBRERA
DE LA INDUSTRIA DEL PETROLEO
"USO"
COMISION NACIONAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Y PAZ U.S.O
Personería Jurídica No. 005272 de Octubre 22 de 1993
NIT: 800.217.208.1
Afiliada a: FUNTRAENERGETICA y a la CUT
General. It is noteworthy that Hector Sanchez Rubiales was arrested in the Rubiales
region and taken to the Bogota via charter flight.
2.- The arrests were ordered by Dr. LUISA FAJARDO, Prosecutor 239 of the Individual
Liberty Unit, for the serious charges of aggravated kidnapping, obstruction of roads,
conspiracy to commit a crime, threats, and violation of the right to work; this is an
application of the controversial Citizen Security Law, which has paved the way for a
new era of prosecutions of the right to association and social protest.
3.- In the development of these hearings, it has been announced that additional
members, and regional/national USO leaders are at risk of being arrested. This is
further evidence that the government, and particularly the Prosecutor General's
Office, are at the service of Pacific Rubiales in their transnational quest to improve
"investor confidence", by means of disrespecting workers’ rights and the right of
association and the right to unionize, in order to loot of our natural resources and
exacerbate aberrant environment violations.
4. - Today, December 6, the security measure of preventive detention was ordered for
ORTIZ, NARANJO, and SANCHEZ in the La Picota penitentiary. All they have done is
defend workers’ labor and trade union rights.
5.- Hector Sanchez has received aggressive death threats throughout the year. The
Prosecutor General’s Office has been made aware of these incidents but investigations
have not yielded any results. We emphasize that our arrested coworkers are important
witnesses in the lawsuit that the union filed earlier this year against Pacific Rubiales for
the crimes of violation of the freedom of association and conspiracy.
We demand of the Colombian government that it:
1. - immediately release of our imprisoned coworkers
2. - Discontinue persecution at the hands of the state against oil workers, unions and
the social-justice movement in the country
3. - Recognize Labor Rights and the rights of workers,
4. - Maintain independence between the Colombian justice system and transnational
interests
5. - Repeal the Citizen Security Law and other arbitrary rules that prosecute individuals
who participate in non-violent civil disobedience.
Luchanos por la nacionalización sin indemnización de nuestro petróleo, recursos naturales y la unidad de la clase obrera
USO NACIONAL – Barrancabermeja
Avda. del Ferrocarril No. 28-43. AA. 386
Tel. (976) 22 78 56- 20 99 11- 20 99 12. Fax 22 91 50
E-mail: [email protected]
USO NACIONAL – Bogotá
Calle 35 No. 7 – 25 Piso 8
Tel. (91) 2 34 47 23 - 2 34 42 63 – 2 34 45 86
E-mail: [email protected]
UNION SINDICAL OBRERA
DE LA INDUSTRIA DEL PETROLEO
"USO"
COMISION NACIONAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Y PAZ U.S.O
Personería Jurídica No. 005272 de Octubre 22 de 1993
NIT: 800.217.208.1
Afiliada a: FUNTRAENERGETICA y a la CUT
We ask of Colombia and the international community that they:
1. Urge the Colombian government to suspend the persecution and criminalization of
social protest, release DARIO CARDENAS, CAMPO ELIAS ORTIZ, JOSE DILIO
NARANJO and HECTOR SANCHEZ on bail, and guarantee their right to a fair trial
2. Provide moral, legal, and political solidarity and accompaniment for the USO and its
detained workers
3. Demand that the Prosecutor General's Office cease institutional persecution
targeting our union’s members and leadership.
National Human Rights and Peace Commission, USO.
JUNTA DIRECTIVA U.S.O NACIONAL
Bogota, December 6, 2013
c.c.
Juan Manuel Santos Calderon
President of the Republic
Carrera 8 No. 7 -26 Palacio de Narino, Bogota D.C.
Angelino Garzon
Vice President of the Republic
Carrera 8 No.7-57, Bogota D.C.
Juan Carlos Pinzon
Minister of Defense
Avenida El dorado con carrera 52 CAN, Bogota D.C.
Fernando Carrillo Florez
Minister of the Interior and Justicia
Carrera 9a. No. 14-10, Bogota, D.C.
Eduardo Montealegre Lynett
Prosecutor General of the Nation
Diagonal 22B No. 52-01, Bogota, D.C.
Jorge Armando Otalora Gomez
Ombudsman
Calle 55 # 10-32, Bogota, D.C.
Luchanos por la nacionalización sin indemnización de nuestro petróleo, recursos naturales y la unidad de la clase obrera
USO NACIONAL – Barrancabermeja
Avda. del Ferrocarril No. 28-43. AA. 386
Tel. (976) 22 78 56- 20 99 11- 20 99 12. Fax 22 91 50
E-mail: [email protected]
USO NACIONAL – Bogotá
Calle 35 No. 7 – 25 Piso 8
Tel. (91) 2 34 47 23 - 2 34 42 63 – 2 34 45 86
E-mail: [email protected]
UNION SINDICAL OBRERA
DE LA INDUSTRIA DEL PETROLEO
"USO"
COMISION NACIONAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS Y PAZ U.S.O
Personería Jurídica No. 005272 de Octubre 22 de 1993
NIT: 800.217.208.1
Afiliada a: FUNTRAENERGETICA y a la CUT
Alejandro Ordonez Maldonado
Inspector General of the Nation
Cra. 5 No.15 – 80F, Bogota D.C.
United Nations Colombia Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights
Calle 114 No. 9-45 Torre B Office 1101
Edificio Teleport Bussines Park, Bogota D.C.
International Labour Organization
Route des Morillons 4
CH-1211 Geneve 22
Luchanos por la nacionalización sin indemnización de nuestro petróleo, recursos naturales y la unidad de la clase obrera
USO NACIONAL – Barrancabermeja
Avda. del Ferrocarril No. 28-43. AA. 386
Tel. (976) 22 78 56- 20 99 11- 20 99 12. Fax 22 91 50
E-mail: [email protected]
USO NACIONAL – Bogotá
Calle 35 No. 7 – 25 Piso 8
Tel. (91) 2 34 47 23 - 2 34 42 63 – 2 34 45 86
E-mail: [email protected]